Dr. Truong Van Dung is the Head of the Medical and Environmental Division at an AHF-supported facility. His story is next in our “I Am AHF” series featuring remarkable staff, clients, and partners who are doing what’s right to save lives everyday.
Dr. Truong (middle) at AHF Vietnam’s 15th anniversary celebration.
I still remember the early 2000s when I first began working at Thanh Lâm Prison, nestled deep in Vietnam’s mountainous regions. The roads were treacherous, resources were limited, and conditions were harsh. Our facility housed over 3,000 inmates from across the country, many of whom were severely ill. Among them were people living with HIV who had progressed to AIDS.
At that time, we had no access to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for all patients. Confirmatory HIV tests were only available for those at the highest risk. We tried everything we could—partnering with local AIDS prevention centers and district and provincial hospitals to treat opportunistic infections and provide palliative care. Still, it wasn’t enough. Every year, we helplessly watched dozens of people die from AIDS-related complications.
Everything began to change in 2015, when we established our outpatient clinic for ARV treatment. With support from the Provincial CDC and AHF, we finally had a chance to turn things around. AHF became a vital partner, training our medical staff and providing technical support, supplies, and funding.
I remember one man who arrived with swollen lymph nodes on both sides of his neck. He could barely eat or move. After just a short period of taking ARVs, his symptoms faded. Many others who once appeared skeletal began to recover. They gained strength and hope.
As our capacity grew, so did our confidence. We no longer feared HIV—we treated it with knowledge, the best available medicines, and with dignity and compassion. Our leadership recognized that this work was more than healthcare—it was about redemption, humanity, and second chances.
Education and awareness became key. We trained health workers and correctional officers. Inmates themselves learned to accept, support, and protect one another. The fear and stigma began to fade even though the intervention was targeted within a prison setting.
Today, HIV-related deaths in our facility are almost zero. Patients live longer and have healthier lives. Most no longer need referrals to higher-level hospitals. We now see what’s possible when care is consistent and inclusive. In addition, AHF actively advocates for policies at all levels of government to ensure that prisoners living with HIV can continue receiving ART after reintegrating into the community, helping prevent interruptions in their treatment.
This success is the result of many hands, but AHF has been central. From medication and training to equipment and supplies, their support has transformed lives and lifted entire systems.
Our clinic is now integrated into the national HIV response network. We exchange knowledge, share practices, and support others who want to replicate our model. The ripple effect is growing, and people are accessing life-saving services with consistent adherence.
We’ve come far, but there’s more to do. We need training, equipment, and encouragement. With AHF by our side, we remain committed to being a bridge between hardship and healing. I hope what we achieved in our prison can be expanded to all other prisons across Vietnam.
