MANDEVILLE, Manchester — It was an evening of elegance for guests who turned out to the pre-Valentine’s function hosted by the Rotary Club of Mandeville.

But it was also a chance for the service club to raise funds to improve the capacity of the Manchester Fire Department, the main project for the 2012-13 administration.

Among the immediate needs of the fire station are small accessories and equipment such as a portable pump to enhance the efficiency of the personnel as they carry out their duties.

The rotary club has also been impacting the community in other ways through other charities and projects.

Under the leadership of President Basil Cameron efforts to boost the services offered at the Mandeville Regional Hospital (MRH) have continued.

Mandeville rotarians say that in short order the maternity delivery room at the public health facility will be outfitted with fetal monitoring units.

Rotarian Dr Patrick Adizua said that the donation to the Mandeville Regional Hospital came at a cost of US$56,000 and was made available through a partnership of the Rotary Club of Mandeville, the Rotary Foundation, Scotia Foundation, Rotary Club of Grand Cayman, Rotary Club of Naples in Florida, the Rotary Club of Vienna along with nine other rotary clubs in Virginia.

Last year the Urology Department of the hospital, which previously had no equipment for prostate cancer screening, benefitted from an upgrade.

“Nothing was in existence. Now we have state-of-the-art equipment. (There are) only two (prostate screening equipment) in public service — one at KPH (Kingston Public Hospital) and one at Mandeville. Both of them were donated by Rotary,” said Adizua.

For its commitment over the years an appreciative MRH recently recognised the Rotary Club of Mandeville as one of its top benefactors.

Guests at the worthwhile early Valentine’s event were entertained on three floors — the conference room, the bar and restaurant and on the roof — at Regie’s Fine Dining Restaurant.

The evening’s entertainment featured songbird Maria Myrie, pianist Dr Kathy Brown and DJ Quest.

Raffle winner Alton Rowe won aprize of a weekend for two at the Spanish Court Hotel in Kingston.

Cameron estimates that the ultimate aim of the event was achieved.

“I think it was a very pleasant evening. There should be something realised,” he told the Observer Central.