A 19-year-old woman in Siluwa, Palpa, died while being taken to Lumbini for treatment shortly after she gave birth to a stillborn baby at a village health post on Friday, the District Health Office said on Monday.

Manakala Nepali of Siluwa VDC-9 was referred to Lumbini Medical College after she suffered from excessive bleeding following the stillbirth. She died on the way to the hospital.

Madhav Gyewali, information officer of the DHO, said Manakala’s life could have been saved had her family taken her to a health facility earlier.

Manakala’s family was reportedly planning to have the baby delivered at home.

“She was taken to the village health post only after her condition deteriorated,” Gyewali said. “It was already too late by then.”

Dr Raju Shakya of Lumbini Medical College also agrees that Manakala’s death was a result of delayed medical intervention.

“Regular medical check-ups and consultations could have saved both the mother and the baby. The health complication occurred because the woman’s family wanted her to give birth at home, which is not always safe,” said Dr Shakya.