The Health of Hafnarfjörður Residents Improved in the Health Town

Health Comes First in Hafnarfjörður!

Sportacus visited every preschool in the town, and Hafnarfjörður’s Happiness Days were extended from one week to an entire month last year, taking place in September. Sportacus’s visit and the Happiness Days were among the many projects and events that the Health Town of Hafnarfjörður took part in during 2024. New partners also joined the initiative. The seventh annual report of the Health Town has now been published. Many events were held throughout the year, including:

• A summer scavenger hunt in the uplands

• Two educational evenings at Bæjarbíó

• Float yoga in the Suðurbær swimming pool

• A wellness and exercise campaign in youth centers

• Health and culture walks during the summer

• Floating sessions at Hvaleyrarvatn

Projects related to the goals of the Health Town are continually being reviewed and evaluated, with ongoing efforts to develop and promote a health-enhancing community in Hafnarfjörður. A strong focus is placed on encouraging physical activity. Examples include:

• Participation in a joint walking map initiative for the capital region

• Funding a snow machine in collaboration with the Skating Association

• Walking paths, planning and future vision

Safety was also a priority, with initiatives such as:

• Reflectors distributed to the youngest grades

• Frísk í FH. Health promotion for senior citizens

• The drug prevention program Veldu for all grades

• Free condoms provided to all 10th-grade students

A Clear Goal

The main objectives of Hafnarfjörður as a Health Town are to increase well-being, physical activity, healthy eating, and time spent outdoors in the uplands. These goals continue to drive the work of the steering committee and are reflected in the selection of projects. Strengthening self-image and well-being involves building supportive foundations and encouraging everyone in the communit, young and old to take part in health promotion efforts.

There are many plans in motion to further strengthen health in Hafnarfjörður. Among the initiatives planned for 2025:

• Increasing the number of health-promoting preschools in Hafnarfjörður (most primary schools already have this status, but only a few preschools)

• Installing one outdoor water fountain each year

Several projects have become annual fixtures, including the educational evenings at Bæjarbíó, public health walks, races, drug education programs, and physical activities in youth centers.

In Collaboration with the Directorate of Health

The number of health-promoting communities in Iceland continues to grow, with over 90% of the country’s population now living in such municipalities. The initiative is carried out in collaboration with the Directorate of Health, which last year introduced a new set of public health indicators, lýðheilsuvísar, to provide an overview of health by region. These indicators can be accessed for Hafnarfjörður under Public Health Indicators 2024.

A Successful Year of Health Promotion Behind Us

In the summary by the team behind the Health Town initiative, it’s noted that the discussion around well-being was prominent in Hafnarfjörður in 2024, often focusing on marginalized groups.

“Access and participation of children with disabilities and children of immigrants in sports and recreational activities were part of the discussion. Indicators suggest that these groups participate significantly less in such activities, and this lack of engagement reinforces their marginalization. We are working to change this and to actively include these groups,” the summary states.

“2024 was a very good year for health promotion in Hafnarfjörður. The steering group, The Health Town Hafnarfjörður, participated in numerous projects, several of which were entirely new. In addition, new partners joined the initiative, all working toward the same goals as those of the Health Town. A strong year behind us sets the stage for continuing what worked well and building further,” it continues, concluding with:

“The Health Town moves forward, and our tried-and-true goals continue to drive us toward making Hafnarfjörður an even better place in 2025.”

Yes, this is how it should be!