DAJABON, Dominican Republic.- Former president Jimmy Carter arrived in the country Tuesday afternoon, where he’ll urge the Dominican Government and Haiti’s leaders to work together to rid the island they share of the mosquito-borne malaria.

Haitians estimated in the thousands cross the border into the Dominican Republic every month, many infected with the illness, with Hispaniola the only place still affected in the Caribbean

The former U.S. president will also check the progress of a US$200,000 pilot project of the NGO Carter Center that local health officials say has helped curb the spread of the disease in the Haitian town Ouanaminthe, just west of Dajabon.

The program has funded nets treated with insecticide for residents to use, microscopes for lab technicians and motorbikes for field workers.