MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Torrential rains dampened the plans of the Lions Club of Mandeville to maximise the benefits of their recent main fundraiser, ‘Men Who Cook’, but members are still optimistic that the pathology lab for the central region that is under construction will open its doors by year end.

The lab, an over $30-million undertaking, is one of the legacy projects of the international service organisation and was officially launched during its 100th anniversary celebrations last year.

Lions Club of Mandeville members said it is one of their “most ambitious” projects, but one in which the region is in dire need. They say it was unsustainable to have the pathologist that works for the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) also travelling to the Cornwall Regional Hospital in the Montego Bay region to use shared space.

The attendant challenges that come with that arrangement are delays in getting tissue samples and post-mortems, wear and tear on company vehicles, and undue exhaustion of staff.

During last year’s launch, former regional technical director at the SRHA, Dr Michael Coombs, said that having an easily accessible and modern laboratory is like the “eyesight” of health care because that is how medical practitioners are able to effectively manage patients’ conditions.

Having the lab, he said, is also a way to monitor outbreaks of infectious diseases.

Lion and chairman of the Pathology Lab Project Committee, Dr Hopeton Falconer, told the Jamaica Observer that much work has been done to get the containerised structure ready, but there is more to do and funds are depleting.

He said that the roof, doors and windows have been added, partitioning is in progress, as well as the plumbing and electrical work.

“The concern now is to get the cooling and ventilation works in place so we can finish up the ceiling, partitioning and flooring. Cooling and ventilation are expensive,” he said.

Past president of the Lions Club of Mandeville, Winston Fearon, said that each time the ‘Men Who Cook’ fundraiser is held, the aim is to make at least $3 million.

He said that the tallying is not yet complete but he expects that the earning will be about half of what is usually achieved.

Fearon believes that overall the event “went well” despite the inclement weather.

Cooks, guests, sponsors and performers braved the soggy field at the Brooks Parks Sports and Recreational Complex to be a part of the day’s activities last month.

The Jamaica Observer domino team came out to defend their title and again walked away victorious.

Falconer said that the money raised at the most recent event will allow more work to be done on the pathology lab project but the Lions Club would be depending on corporate support to help them achieve their goal.

“Hopefully we will be able to finish up by the end of the calendar year,” he said.