Numerous health-promoting events in Hafnarfjörður

Health is a priority in Hafnarfjörður!

The successful Happiness Days in the autumn were among the many projects and events that Healthy City of Hafnarfjörður participated in during 2023. The Happiness Days consisted of a whole week of popular, happiness-related activities organised by partners in the town. The Health Town's sixth annual report has been published. It celebrates the end of the difficult Covid years.

A treasure hunt, the Janus movement for senior citizens, float yoga and sex education were among the projects. Two workshops held at Hafnarborg were among the other projects that stood out in 2023. Representatives of the primary schools in Hafnarfjörður met at the first workshop in the spring, and it was clear that the schools are on a good course. All the primary schools have become health-promoting in one way or another. The second workshop was held in the autumn. Then, representatives of the nurseries met to discuss their opportunities. Around seven nurseries presented health-promoting projects, most of which focused on the children's outdoor play and physical activity.

Projects related to the objectives of the health town and how a health-promoting community in Hafnarfjörður can be developed and strengthened are constantly being reviewed and evaluated.

In collaboration with the Chief Medical Officer

The number of health-promoting communities in the country is steadily increasing, and well over 90% of the country's inhabitants live in health-promoting municipalities. The project is in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, which introduced public health indicators during the year to provide an overview of public health by region. These indicators can be found on the City of Hafnarfjörður's website: Public Health Indicators 2023 – Results for Hafnarfjörður | Hafnarfjörður (hafnarfjordur.is)

The Healthy Town works with a healthy workplace, but around 2,500 people are employed by the town across sixty sites. Currently, 45 of these 60 sites of the City of Hafnarfjörður are healthy workplaces, and their number has been steadily increasing. The implementation is ongoing until the summer. (link)

All primary schools, the music school, the swimming pools and the music school are now considered health-promoting in one way or another. In addition, 14 homes, day-care centres or workplaces for people with disabilities have begun or completed the implementation process, for example.

The main objectives of the health town of Hafnarfjörður, which are to promote well-being, physical activity, healthy eating and outdoor recreation in the countryside, and are pursued in that spirit. These objectives remain the driving force behind the steering group's project and reflect its project selection.

The main objective of the Health Strategy of Hafnarfjörður:

• Enhance residents' well-being
• Enhance open spaces and walking and cycling paths
• To level access and encourage residents to consume healthy food.

2024, even more powerful

Yes, 2023 was a very good year for health promotion in Hafnarfjörður. The projects were numerous, and many of them were brand new. A good year behind us and a great foundation to build on what went well.

This year's action plan is ambitious. The number of projects and their scope have never been greater. We will therefore cultivate ourselves and enhance health promotion in Hafnarfjörður in 2024.

Key projects for 2023:

• Summer-long treasure hunt in the uplands
• Happy days in autumn
• Project Janus, health promotion for the elderly residents of Hafnarfjörður
• Two educational evenings at Bæjarbíó: sex education and the importance of breathing
• News outlets encourage residents to look after their own health.
• Floating Yoga at the South Bay Pool
• Health and fitness initiative in community centres
• Agreement with a sexologist on the implementation of gender and sex education
• Saft education for Year 6 pupils
• The Armoury's Education for 7th and 9th Graders
• The Bereavement Centre's Advent Education
• Health and Culture Walks over the summer
• Floating on Lake Hvaleyrarvatn
• Walking paths, planning and vision
• Reflective badges for the youngest primary school pupils and older residents.
• Outdoor table tennis table
• Free access to the walking app
• Health and fitness initiative in community centres