The Community Outreach for Health Awareness, Incorporated needs an effective board in order that it may serve the community more efficiently. Such board must be representative of the community served so that the needs of the community can be more effectively met. There should be no more that twelve members, and the quorum should be 30% of the membership. The functions of such board include:

• Policy Advocacy
• Oversight of COHA activities
• Proposals and Budget approval
• Represents COHA to the community
• Hiring and firing of employees
• Decides on key issues concerning COHA
• Is subject only to COHA Bylaws, and laws governing 501(c) (3) Non-profit organizations
• Biannual elections
• Raises Money For COHA

About Us

Organizational Structure    

COHA, Inc. is comprised of a Board of Directors, and a general body. There are currently twelve board members, consisting of a President, two Vice Presidents, a recording Secretary, a Financial Secretary, Chaplain, six at Large members of the board, and over 125 volunteers. The volunteers are organized into the eight programs currently run by COHA: Heart Attack/Stroke, Cancer, Teen Pregnancy, Teen Alcohol/Drugs, Community Health Fairs, Health Symposium, Teen Summit, Parent Summit and Award Banquet. Each of these programs is overseen by a Program Director, who also directs the activities of the program. The program directors then have monthly meeting with the Vice President of programs, who oversees the programs, and reports the progress or lack of it to the board.

Vision Statement

To improve the health of Mississippi’s underserved, thereby reducing health disparity.

Mission Statement

To engage the community by mobilizing its resources to improve the quality of life for the less fortunate, reduce health care costs and improve the life expectancy of the disadvantaged and disenfranchised residents of Mississippi.

• Good health is a right, not a privilege
• Lack of prevention leads to poor health
• Prevention is the key to good health
• It’s a blessing to give
• Good health saves money
• Prevention is a key ingredient to longer life

President: Samuel Okoye, MD, FAAFP
Phone: 601 922 4722 or 800 924 COHA
Email: okoyemd@aol.com

Other Board Members:
Lavonne McGee- Secretary
David Harrington-Public Relations
Francis Ubadineke- Financial Secretary
Linda Winstead- Book Keeper
Lionel Fraser, MD – Health Representative
Della Sutton- Patient Representative
Spencer Drake- Business Representative
Melanie Christopher- Media Representative
Pastor Glenn Thomas- Chaplain