President Bush has less than a year left for in his presidency. He might be thinking: so much to do in so little time! Nevertheless, the president is spending some of this precious time, seven days to be specific, visiting African nations including my homeland, Rwanda. I am sure there are many reasons why the president is visiting the motherland; but likely one of the reasons is to shine the spotlight even brighter on the president’s commitment to fight AIDS. His Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has laid the foundation for our next president, but there is still much work to do. In his last State of the Union, President Bush called on Congress to continue fighting AIDS by funding PEPFAR. I hope all the presidential candidates, Democrats and Republicans alike, will continue to fulfill these commitments.

Before casting my first American vote during the Iowa caucuses, I had an opportunity to share with most of the presidential candidates, including the ones who are still in the race, about the reality of growing up in poverty and what it is like to lose a friend to AIDS. In fact, all the candidates who are still in the race told me in person that the fight against poverty and HIV/AIDS would be part of their agenda. They have spoken about this on the campaign trail across the country, speaking to all Americans, one by one, young and old, about a bright future. In November, I will be casting my first vote in a national election. If nothing else, I want to know how our next president will continue the American legacy of coming to the aide of the most vulnerable. How will he or she honor his or her word to fight against poverty and AIDS?

-Natalie Sugira