SINGAPORE--The Health Promotion Board (HPB) has awarded PR duties to GolinHarris, following a lengthy review of the key government account.

GolinHarris takes charge of a two-year assignment worth approximately S$900k, displacing incumbent agency Waggener-Edstrom, which chose not to defend the brief.

Six agencies were in contention for the tender, with GolinHarris prevailing ahead of Weber Shandwick, Edelman, Grayling, Ogilvy PR and PR Communications.

Rachel Norager, executive director of GH's healthcare practice in Singapore, said that the firm would work with the HPB to "achieve their vision of a healthier nation."

The tender covers public relations consultancy and consumer marketing for the HPB's numerous healthcare programmes, which include such areas as smoking control, AIDS education, mental health education, and physical activity.