On June 25, 2020, the mayor of Rangárþing eystra signed an agreement, on behalf of the municipality, with the Office of the Chief Medical Officer to foster a health-promoting community.

A health-promoting community is one that prioritizes the well-being and health of all residents in policy-making and actions across all areas. Our work is comprehensive, addressing health factors, and our primary goal is to create an environment and conditions that contribute to the overall well-being, health, and happiness of all residents in Rangárþing eystra.

Health-Promoting Community

The primary objective of the Health Promoting Society is to assist communities in establishing an environment and conditions that foster healthy lifestyles, as well as the health and well-being of all residents.

Focused Public Health Initiatives in Health Promoting Communities

Local authorities proactively choose to become a Health Promoting Society. To participate, the town or municipal mayor signs an application, a multidisciplinary steering committee is formed to oversee the work, ensuring the engagement of key stakeholders, and a designated contact person is appointed. By endorsing an agreement for a Health-Promoting Community, local authorities pledge to conduct targeted public health initiatives in alignment with the goals and guidelines of a Health-Promoting Community, with support from the Office of the National Medical Examiner and other stakeholders.

Guiding Principles

  • Active participation of society as a whole, incl. stakeholders from all sectors.
  • The job is based on the best knowledge and experience at any given time.
  • DO NO HARM
  • Equality for health through general actions and actions that take into account the needs of vulnerable groups.
  • Sustainability, focusing on planning work and success in the long term

In a Health-Promoting Society, the well-being of all residents takes precedence in policy planning and actions across all sectors. We address the influencing factors on health and well-being, such as social, economic, and cultural conditions, as well as the human-made and natural environment, to create optimal conditions for life, recreation, and work at all life stages. Encouraging a healthy lifestyle should be effortless, whether it's through exercise, healthy eating, mental well-being, or adopting a green lifestyle, while simultaneously discouraging risky behaviors like tobacco, alcohol, and substance use. Supporting the initiatives of Health-Promoting kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools is a crucial aspect of the Health Promoting Society's work.